Sunday, October 7, 2007

COA Equips KASC With e-NGAS

by Marciano A. Paroy Jr.

The finance department of the Kalinga-Apayao State College joins the ever-growing number of agencies that opted to have a fully automated accounting system through a five-day training attended compulsorily by finance and administration personnel, on from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1, 2007.

The training, given by experts from the regional office of the Commission on Audit (COA), aims to equip finance and administration personnel with a state-of-the-art technology known as Electronic New Government Accounting System (e-NGAS).

As posted in the home page for the program (http://engas.gafmis.ph), e-NGAS is an accounting software developed by COA which aims to simplify government accounting, and provide adequate internal controls, as well as reliable and timely financial management information without sacrificing data integrity and fiscal transparency. Implementation of e-NGAS is under the Government Accountancy and Financial Management Information System (GAFMiS) of COA.

The training in KASC, led by Ms. Mary D. Bacwaden of COA-CAR, showed that e-NGAS is a powerful accounting tool that gives its users an immediate picture of the school’s entire financial situation by generating accounting reports and statements at the click of the mouse.

The features of the system include the following: Automated recording of accounting entries to the general journal, posting to the subsidiary ledger and the general ledger; Automatic checking of balances between debits and credits; Adequate security control mechanisms for data integrity and accuracy; Up-to-date generation of government standard reports necessary for management and auditing purposes; Real-time query of interim reports and documents; User-friendly screen; Simplified entry of financial transactions and activities, using transaction templates; Use of responsibility accounting for a more detailed financial reporting and analysis

“This makes our work so much easier,” Mr. Jeoffrey Peralta, KASC Accountant, expressed. “It is to our advantage that the administration has decided to avail of the benefits that the system provides. We shall no longer have problems on pegging how much a certain unit or department still has in its coffers.”

Mr. Peralta also added that if COA returns to fully put the system in place by October, KASC may be the first state college and university in the region to use e-NGAS.

The training was attended by personnel from the Accounting Section: Rex Duclayan and Renee Anjinette Chaclag; from the Cashiering Section: Mary Sarne, Normalyn Buen, Erlingine Sison, and Lourdes Natarte; from the Budget Section: Danilo Buen; from the Payroll Section: Antonio Pang-ay; and the Supply Office: Romulo Langgaman and Artefino Buen.

“After this training, we shall make it the administation’s commitment to have the system implemented the soonest time possible,” College President Eduardo Bagtang said.

Mr. Hector Cortes, one of the trainors, said “We are impressed by the enthusiasm showed by the trainees, and we commend the officialdom of KASC for embarking on this undertaking.”

The team from the regional office includes Peter Garas and Mydee Novencio.

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